Shoe heel



June 2, 1959 E. o. BARTOLUCCI SHOE HEEL Filed May '7, 1958 INVENTOR EDGAR BARTOLUCCI ATTORNEYS.

SHOE HEEL Edgar 0. Bartolucci, New York, N.Y.

Application May 7, 1958, Serial No. 733,667

7 Claims. (Cl. 36-34) This invention relates to shoes and more particularly to shoe heels that may be adjusted for wear.

It is an object of the invention to provide a shoe heel having a heel member that is adjustable to compensate for wear.

It is another object of the invention to provide a shoe heel with an elongated heel member that may be adjusted when desired, to project beyond the walking surface of the shoe heel to compensate for wear and to provide a heel walking surface of extremely long duration.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe heel with a heel that will outlast heel constructions presently in use by being adjustable to provide a new heel portion to compensate for the wear thereon. Accordingly, a feature of the invention resides in the provision of a shoe heel that is unusually long-lasting and one that constantly presents an appearance of a new shoe heel, thereby adding appeal to the overall appearance of the shoe and reducing the expense necessary to frequently re-heel the shoe when the heel thereof has been worn.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a shoe heel and an adjustable wear-compensating heel member that is sturdy in construction, simple to operate, easily secured together against unwanted adjustment and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in the structures and arrangements hereinafter more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a section of a womans shoe heel taken along lines 1--1 of Fig. 2 and constructed in accordance with the teaching of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the shoe heel shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section of Fig. 1 taken along lines 33.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a shoe heel insert of another embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the actuator key for adjustment of the heel member.

Fig. 6 is a section of another embodiment of a womans shoe heel incorporating the heel member shown in Fig. 4, and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a locking key.

Referring now to the drawings, the shoe heel construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, is generally identified by the numeral 10. The shoe heel construction 10 comprises any well-known shoe heel 12 that includes openings 14 and a sock lining surface 16 by way of which the same may be conveniently secured in any well known manner to the bottom or heel portion of a shoe.

The heel 12 is provided with a bore 18 that extends longitudinally throughout the length of the stem thereof. The bore 18 is threaded along the wall thereof. The extent of the length of the thread 29 will be such as to permit the insertion and threaded engagement of the insert heel member 22 therein. The heel member 22 is elongated in length and is threaded with surfaces for mating engagement with the threaded bore 18 and for relative adjustment along the length of the bore.

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The heel insert or member 22 is provided with an elongated key slot 24 that extends well into the heel member 22 for a portion of the length thereof to permit the adjustment of the member 22 relative to the bore whereby the full extent of the same may be employed as a walking surface. The key slot 24 is located in the end of the insert member 22 that faces the walking surface of the shoe heel. Hence, access to the slot is aflorded along the walking surface thereof so that the member 22 may be conveniently adjusted by the use of an actuating key generally identified by the numeral 26, to be described.

With the heel member 22 threadedly inserted in the bore 18, it may be locked with its walking surface projecting from the lower end thereof by the provision of a locking key generally identified by the numeral 28 (Fig. 7). The locking key is substantially rectangular in shape and being elongated in length, it is adapted to fit in corresponding diametrically disposed slots or grooves 30 provided in the bore 18. The upper end of the insert member 22 opposite its walking surface is similarly provided with a diametrically disposed slot or groove 32 for diametric alignment with the grooves 30 in the bore 18.

The length of the groove 32 is sufiicient to accommodate the locking key 28 to receive the same therein so that its opposite ends 34 will fit in the .diametric grooves 30 of the bore 18 and the body 36 will engage in the groove 32 when the grooves 32 and 30 are'in diametric alignment. The locking key 28 thus performs the function of a spline to prevent the rotation of .the insert member 22 relative to the bore 18 of the shoe heel 12.

When, after a period of wear on the walking surface of the insert member 22, it is desired to present a new walking surface or heel, the key 28 is removed from engagement between the diametrically aligned grooves 32 and 30. The member 22 is then threadedly rotated in the bore 18 to project a predetermined portion beyond the end of the stem of the shoe heel 12. Rotation of the heel member 22 is aiforded by the actuating key 26 that is substantially L-shaped in formation. The L- shaped key 26 has an elongated stem 38 that is adapted to fit into the key slot 24 of the heel member 22 while ,a perpendicularly disposed handle 40 may be grasped manually to rotate the actuating key.

After the heel member 22 has been threaded by the key 26 to extend or project beyond the lower walking surface of the stem of the shoe heel 12 a predetermined distance in accordance with the desires of the wearer, the key is removed from the slot 24 after diametrically aligning the grooves 30 and 32. The locking key 28 is then re-inserted in the diametrically aligned grooves 30 and 32 to retain the heel member 22 from unwanted rotation. The threaded projection of the heel member 22 may be accomplished as often as desired to provide a new heel walking surface for the shoe heel 12. The extent of this walking surface is of course limited only by the length of the heel member 22 which, as can be seen in the drawings, is elongated to provide a long-lasting re-heeling member. When the heel member 22 has been worn down to where the same is no longer usable in the manner disclosed above, the remaining portion may be removed from the bore 18 and a new heel member 22 threadably inserted in the bore for use in the manner previously described.

The threaded engagement of the heel member 22 with the stem of the shoe heel 12, provides a solid construction which does not detract from the stability of the stem of the shoe heel, does not in any way weaken its structural details, and constantly offers the appearance of a new shoe heel. Access to the diametrically aligned locking grooves 30 and 32 and to the locking key 28 engageable therein, is afiorded by lifting the heel pad or sock lining of the shoe, leaving the bore 18 exposed so that the locking key 28 may be removed therefrom and from engagement with the grooves :30 and 32.

Theembodiment shown-in Figs. 4 and 6-is generally identified by the numeral\42 and comprisesa shoe heel constructionhaving structural details similar to the shoe heel construction 10 previously described. .It difiers thcrefromonly in the heel member 44 (Fig.4) that is adapted to be threadedly inserted therein. The heel member 44 isprovided with a threaded exterior46 that mates with the threads of the bore 18. Its lower end 48is adapted to project beyond the stem of the shoe heel 12 to providev a walking surface therefor. The extent to whichthe heel member 44 is caused to be projected beyond the lower walking surface of the stern of the shoe heel 12, is determined by the desires of the wearer.

:To afford the threaded rotation and projection of the heelmember 44 beyond the walking surface end of the shoe heel ,12, the same is provided with a key slot 50. that is defined thereinat the upperend thereof opposite to the walking surfaceand in longitudinal extension of a key slot 52. It -is accessible to the wearer after the sock lining'of the shoe is lifted to expose the "bore 18. Once'again, to insure against rotation of the heel member relative to the bore .718 and the shoe heel 12. the locking slot or groove 52 is defined diametrically in the heel member in the end thereof, opposite the walking surface. The diametric locking slot or groove 52 is adapted to be aligned with the diametrically disposed locking slots or grooves that are defined along the walls of the bore 18.

By the use and application of the lock key 28 (Fig. 7) to engage in the diametrically aligned grooves 30 and 52, the heel member 44 may be prevented from rotation relative to the bore 18 and the shoe heel 12. Again it will be recognized that the amount to which the walking surface 48 of the heel member44 may be projected beyond the lower walking surface end of the shoe heel 12, is determined by the desires of the wearer. When the projected walking surface of the heel member 44 has been worn sufficiently, the wearer may then compensate for this wear by removing the locking key 28 from the aligned grooves 30 and 52 and thence rotate the heel member 44 by engaging the stem 38 the actuator key 26 in the key slot 50.

It is to be noted that the shoe heel 12 may be cast or molded of metal or plastic material and the holes or securing openings 14 defined therein provided during the molding operation. 'The key slots 24 and may be of any. shape provided, however, they enable the insertion of a suitable actuator key to threadedly rotate the same within the bore 18. The heel members 22 and 44 may be of rubber, plastic, wood, metal or any other desirablematerial and, in proper instances, cast or molded I claim:

1. A shoe heel construction comprising a shoe heel including the means whereby the same is adapted to be fastened to the heel portion of a shoe, said heel having a bore extending longitudinally therein and opening onto the walking surface thereof, said bore being threaded for at least a portion of its length, a longitudinally elongated heel member threaded along the length thereof for engagement with said threaded bore and for adjustment relative thereto within the bore to project beyond the walking surface of said shoe heel and define a walking surface, therefor, locking grooves defined in said bore and heel member, and lock means engageable in said grooves to lock said heel member from rotation relative to said bore and heel.

2. In a shoe heel having a threaded bore extending longitudinally therein, a heel member having a threaded surface engageable with said threaded bore for adjustment therein to project a desired distance beyond the end-of said heel to provide an adjustable walking surface therefor, said heel member being formed with an opening to receive a key for manual rotation of said heel member in said here for adjustably threading said heel member in said bore to project said heel member a desired amount beyond the end of said heel to compensate for wear, locking grooves defined in said bore and heel member, and lock means engageable in said grooves to lock said heel member from rotation relative to said bore.

3. In a shoe heel as in claim 2, said opening being defined in said heel member in the end thereof opposite said walking surface.

4. In a shoe heel as in claim 2, said opening being defined in said heel member in the end thereof facing said walking surface.

5. A re-heelable shoe heel construction comprising a shoe heel having a bore extending the length of the heel and having at least a portion thereof formed with a thread, a re-heelable heel member elongated in length and having a threaded exterior engageable with said threaded bore for relative threaded movement therein, an actuating key slot defined in said heel member whereby the same may be rotated relative to said bore for adjustment beyond the end of the shoe heel to provide a heel and walking surface therefor of desired height, diametrically disposed locking grooves in said bore, a locking groove in said heel member diametrically alignable withsaid'groovesin said bore, and locking means engageable in said diametrically aligned grooves to lock said heel member from rotation relative to said bore and shoe heel.

6. A re-heelable shoe heel construction as in claim 5, said key slot being defined in said heel member in the end thereof oposite to said walking surface and extending longitudinally downward from the locking groove therein.

7. A re-heelable shoe heel construction as in claim 5, said key slot beingdefined in said heel member in the end thereof facing said walking surface and extending longitudinally therein for a portion of the length thereof.

References Citedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

